Attractions near The Woods – Ocean Grove’s cabin retreat

Ocean Grove is small enough to spot roadside stalls selling giant homegrown zucchinis, fresh flowers and buckets of lemons, but there’s enough going on that you won’t have to search far from our Ocean Grove bush cabins for things to do!

Top five within five minutes

  1. Beachy days. Roll out the towel for a day of sun and sand at Ocean Grove Main Beach. Catch some waves or book a surf lesson, ramble through the rockpools, grab a coffee from the Dunes Restaurant or play with your pooch at the designated dog beach.
  2. Organise a driver and loosen a notch on your belt. Traipse through the Bellarine’s top wineries and drinking holes such as Oakdene Vineyard and Flying Brick Cider Company, sample wholefoods and raw desserts at Kyosk Café, queue for a famous Squishy at Starfish Bakery and tuck into fish of the day At the Heads restaurant set on a pier.
  3. Family fun. Thrill the kids at Adventure Park, Victoria’s biggest theme park; get tricked up at Ocean Grove skate park, feed the ducks at Blue Waters Lake or brave the BMX track at Ocean Grove Nature Reserve.
  4. Spend your pocket money. Hit the huge array of shops in The Terrace and beyond, including the popular Pattison’s Jewellers, the Green Room surf shop, Stone & Grain homewares, the eclectic warehouse Kyo with imported furniture and weird bits and pieces or a walk-in Chinese massage.
  5. Get active. Paraglide over the sea off the Ocean Grove lookout, bushwalk through the nature reserve, cycle or scoot along the Barwon River track, take a boxing or yoga class on the foreshore.

Top 10 within 15 minutes

  1. Our patch is spoiled for choice with highly ranked golf courses at 13th Beach, Barwon Heads, Curlewis and Swan Bay in Queenscliff. The Range @ Curlewis is a state-of-the-art driving range, great for all ages, undercover and open until late. They also have mini-golf, a bar and serve meals.
  2. Wander the vines and fill containers of berries at Wallington Strawberry Farm or pick your own produce from Lomas Orchards.
  3. Head to the flat and sparkling Barwon River for stand-up paddle boarding, yoga, fishing, jet skis or the Bluff walk. Check out Paddle Life Barwon Heads for equipment hire.
  4. The Bellarine Rail Trail is a must-do for cycle enthusiasts or a family day out. Start on Banks Rd in Ocean Grove and ride parallel to the train track, past paddocks, rivers and wineries finishing in Queenscliff for lunch or an ice-cream. It’s mostly flat and is about three hours return.
  5. Book into Lon Retreat & Spa and prepare to be blown away. Meticulously styled, this adult-only boutique facility in Point Lonsdale offers mineral bathing and the usual day spa treatments. I am a huge fan!
  6. The historical town of Queenscliff is home to an old fort, the Sorrento ferry, fishing charters, art galleries, antique shops and tourist steam train.
  7. Catch a gig at the Barwon Heads Hotel, Piping Hot Chicken Shop (also an institution for chips and gravy!) or Friday night/Sunday afternoon tunes At The Heads.
  8. For a heart racing adventure, take a scenic flight or skydive from Barwon Heads airport.
  9. Join a Sunday morning tour of Point Lonsdale lighthouse, one of the very few manned lighthouses left in Australia.
  10. Weekend farmer’s markets are dotted along the coastal towns, a treasure trove of artistic wares, fresh produce, coffee and treats.
    • Ocean Grove – Third Saturday of the month
    • Barwon Heads – Last Saturday of the month, Feb-Nov (every Sat in Dec-March)
    • Queenscliff – Last Sunday of the month, Sep-May
    • Point Lonsdale – Second Sunday of the month.